STATEMENTS have been taken from more than 90 people by gardaí investigating the gruesome murder of Francis 'Frankie' Dunne.

Mr Dunne was laid to rest in St Michael's cemetery in Blackrock today, with relatives remembering how he loved the joke and the craic.

Since his decapitated body was found in the grounds of Castlegreina House on Boreenmanna Road on December 28, gardaí have interviewed people who met Mr Dunne in the last days of his life, as well as those living in the vicinity of the house, and people who knew him.

They are working to establish what led someone to kill and dismember the popular 64-year-old, who was living in supported accommodation operated by Cork Simon on Boreenmanna Road.

Superintendent Michael Comyns said: “We have completed our house to house enquiries and our searches.”

One person of interest in the investigation is an Eastern European man who had tickets booked to fly home on December 29 — two days after Mr Dunne was last seen.

Gardaí are stressing that the man is not a suspect and had the tickets purchased before the murder, along with tickets to return to Cork.

Gardaí said he is just one of a number of “persons of interest” and that they have already spoken with some of them. 

Meanwhile, gardaí are close to having a file ready to send to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the murder of homeless man Timmy Hourihane.

Mr Hourihane, a former chef from Bantry, died in the early hours of October 13 following a brutal assault in the Mardyke Walk area of the city.

He and other homeless people had gathered to live in tents in the area.

He was found close to his burning tent, with severe injuries. He was rushed to Cork University Hospital but died shortly afterward.

Last month, two men were arrested and questioned about the murder.

Both were released without charge.

Gardai have confirmed that a file will be forwarded to the DPP shortly.